Day 5: Cool Girl

Day 5

Weight:  189 lbs
Size:  14
Blood Pressure:  127/85*
Feeling:  Pre-Cryo:   Good! 
               Post-Cryo:  Great!

* I take medication for chronic hypertension.

The scale was super kind to me today.  Perhaps it knew that it was a Friday and that daily weighing is hard on a girl...  The weight is the lowest in a very, very long time.  I've been stubbornly hovering around the 190-194 mark for a couple of months after losing 28 lbs.  I'd love to tell you how hard I work to get it lower, but I'd be a liar...

I do know that cryotherapy is believed to speed up the metabolism.  There are many reports that say that in the hours after cryotherapy, the body will burn 600-800 calories.  If you consider that, and the fact that my appetite this week was completely off and I ate very little - it could make sense to drop that much weight in a week.  It isn't healthy and I don't advocate it by any stretch.  I was fighting off a cold and it just couldn't be helped.  I won't pretend not to be a little pleased to see the scale nudge down, but it's akin to that sense of satisfaction you might have at seeing a weight loss after the stomach flu.  It sucked, but you got a little something out of it.  Silver linings...

Pre-Cryo:
I went to bed late last night, as usual.  I'm a night owl and even more so when there are things on my mind.  In the past I've taken things to make myself go to sleep earlier, but I'm not a fan of the chemical sleep and melatonin reacts very, very badly for me.  So, I just accept it.  Even so, I woke up very early.  My husband was up and about and in spite of his best efforts, he was too noisy for comfort.  I was awake around 8:00 am, having had about 6 hours of good, deep sleep.  I felt rested and refreshed - and while I wouldn't have minded a bit more sleep, I was fine to carry on.

I was also in a relatively good mood.  Nothing ached, the scale had made me smile a little and I was looking forward to the weekend ahead.  I had energy, a positive attitude and was ready for the day.  I have definitely had a lot more energy with cryotherapy.  

Post-Cryo:
Feeling great!  Still very energetic and have a good "let's get things done" mindset.  Nothing hurts, most of that little cold virus is gone, besides a small cough, and despite a handful of common stressors that most of us deal with, I am feeling very upbeat and positive.  

I feel strong, I feel happy and I feel energetic.  Thanks to a small cold, I also feel the teeny, tiniest bit skinnier.  I will now openly admit that I tried on at least 5 things that were in the back of my closet this morning (in the 'too tight section') "just to see".  Yea.  I'm that girl.

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's Day 6 of Cryo.  On Sunday, there will be a 'pause' since the office is closed for Sundays and we have agreed that the average monthly subscribed wouldn't have access - so neither should I.  No amount of my best pouty faces is likely to convince the Cryo954 staff to come in just for me, and I must say I'm sad.  I must be slipping...

After even five consecutive days, the idea of skipping a day doesn't really appeal to me much...

I also have a desire to get to colder temps.  My sessions hover between -220° and -250°, but I'd like to see more in the -260° and -280° range. Maybe I'm acclimating?  

Day 4: Cold for a Cold?

Weight:  191 lbs
Size:  14
Blood Pressure:  121/87*
Feeling:  Pre-Cryo:   Not Bad! 
               Post-Cryo: Good!

* I take medication for chronic hypertension.

I neglected to take a picture at all today, so you don't have to endure the daily picture of me in a robe.  I really must work on my creativity...

Pre-Cryo:
I woke up well-rested and feeling as though the remnants of the cold virus that tried to take me out this week was mostly gone.  I can still feel that last bit of tickle in my chest that reminds me that it was here, but overall, I feel as though I really dodged it.  Other than my daily vitamin C and D3, and the chloraseptic I took to relieve the sore throat, I took absolutely no antibiotics or cold medicine.  I can't help but think that the cryotherapy actually did work some magic on fighting off what could have been a nasty cold!  Other than the sore throat and a couple of hours in bed with chills the first night, I was never "down" and lost no time to this bug.  Interesting...

I had to wake up early for my doctor's appointment, so I did not wake before my unusually early alarm clock, but in all fairness, it was set for a good hour and a half earlier than I would normally wake to allow me time for a shower.  I even hit snooze once, if we're being honest.  Still, I was up and showered and out the door in a reasonable time.  I felt just fine, only a minor awareness of the tickle in my chest to remind me of the the cold that was dying out.

The doctor's visit yielded some minor anxiety for me and has me in a slight funk.  Some test results mean that I will have to undergo a biopsy in a few weeks and no one ever likes to hear that word...so, I think my anxiety is well-founded and not misplaced.  I'm also having an ongoing minor disagreement in my home that has me annoyed.  Through it, I'm remaining calm, but I would be dishonest to say I am emotionally "perfect" at the moment.  I am not crying, screaming, fighting or throwing fits, but I am certainly on the subdued side internally and trying my best to smile when I can, even if it's a bit of a fake smile.  There's more than a few things on my mind...but, I genuinely think I'm managing them better than usual, if that helps, and I can attribute some of that to a more stable state of mind.

I have some fun planned for the weekend, so I expect to snap out of it and get through it all, I just need to feel what I feel for the moment - and being human, I think that's ok.  Don't you?

My weight is down, as you can see, and it's fair to attribute some of that to a bit of stress and fighting off a cold.  I certainly didn't eat great the past few days.  I'd like to say cryotherapy helped, but I can't make that claim without honestly admitting that my appetite was off the past few days.  

Post-Cryo:
Cryotherapy is always a pick-me-up and I really look forward to it.  A huge part of it is the great feeling and another part of it is the brief time with the staff that I enjoy seeing at Cryo954.  They're fun and friendly, and even if it's only a few minutes, I enjoy the interaction with them.

I barely felt the cold today, although I know it was there.  I suppose I was distracted by my thoughts and the time in the chamber was over so fast that I could hardly believe it.  

As always, my energy level was up immediately after and I felt calm.  Because I am dealing with my own issues, I didn't get the usual "good mood" effect, but I appreciated the calm.  

Hoping a good night's sleep and some time to sort out my thoughts will lead to a better day tomorrow and I can fully appreciate the benefits I am used to.

Enjoy the day off from the robe picture!  I am hoping to get a video for you by the weekend!

Day 3: I've Got Chills....No, Really...

Got Chills?

Day 3:

Weight:  193 lbs
Size:  14
Blood Pressure:  126/85*
Feeling:  Pre-Cryo:  Yucky!!!  
               Post-Cryo:  Surprisingly Pretty Good!

* I take medication for chronic hypertension.

Well, it's a bit of a change-up from the daily picture of me in a robe.  Seriously, how many pictures of me in a robe can you tolerate, right?

Pre-Cryo:

This pouty picture was actually taken last night and here's the deal...after I posted yesterday, you might recall I mentioned a tiny bit of a sore throat and a complete lack of an appetite.  Well, mystery solved...  Around 7:45 pm, I suddenly felt very, very tired and decided to go to bed.  Not nap, but flat out call it a night.  I crawled into bed and was out cold for a few hours, but woke up around 10:30 pm with my throat on fire and the chills.  Ugh, I was getting sick - and ain't nobody got time for that.

I downed a pint of Roman Raspberry gelato from Talenti (don't judge) and convinced my husband that I would definitely die if he didn't go get me Chloraseptic immediately.  After my throat was relieved, I spent the next few hours pouting and being a brat before finally going back to bed.  It was a crappy night.  

I woke this morning without any sore throat, but feeling blah.  No energy.  Very draggy and heavy.  I would have gladly stayed in bed.  I stood under a hot shower until I used up all the hot water in our 5-bedroom house (which is quite a feat) and then dragged myself out the door to Cryo954 with such dramatization that my once-a-week housekeeper rolled her eyes and laughed at me.  I fully intended to come home and go back to bed and as I left I begged her to do whatever she needed to do in my room first.

The shower helped a bit.  Going to a place I enjoy helped too.  Since Cryo954 also happens to be inside my chiropractor's office, I pouted about my neck being sore and lucked out with some adjustment and neck massage.  For a big, fat, whiny crybaby, I was really lucking out...and beginning to wonder how far I could push this.  Turns out - not far.

Post-Cryo:

Well, new revelation about cryotherapy...when you feel like crap, it's perfect.

Who knew the effect that cryotherapy could have on a big, fat, whiny, crybaby fighting off a cold?

I still have the tiniest tickle in my throat, but I have no need to go home and nap.  Would you believe that I willingly came home and worked?  I even ate lunch.  After a few hours, I'm still feeling pretty good - a solid amount of energy, considering!  I'm pretty sure that I will still be resting in a bit, just to really make sure I ward off this evil plague, but I literally went from feeling like I had cement in my blood to feeling pretty decent.  That's unexpected and I can't deny that part of the reason I pushed to go today was to see how cryotherapy interacted with my yucky state.  Pretty impressive results.  If I was in a place of needing to push through, this would absolutely be the answer.

(Before you fret about me infecting the world, I'm not sniffling or coughing and I'm a hand-washing, anti-bacterial sanitizer using kinda gal.  Ever since Bath & Body Works filled the world with pretty smelling vials of anti-bac hand sanitizer, I am never without.  I can't deny that I am breathing, but only in limited directions.  If I was worse off than this, I promise, I would have given up and stayed in bed...I'm not supergirl.)

There has been a nasty bug making the rounds and nearly everyone I know has had a taste of it.  Most of them end up in bed for days, miserable.  I take daily vitamin C and D3 (plus the anti-bac sterilization), but could cryotherapy save me from the full effects?  While there's no guarantee I've been exposed to the same bug - and certainly, we have to consider my added vitamin usage - but the fact that I was resurrected from a really weak place today is nothing if not noteworthy.

My energy is decent, my focus is good.  My mood is good - calm, stable.  I'm slightly tired, which I believe is a result of this minor bug trying to get at me, but I am doing infinitely better than expected for a Florida girl who spent last night in a sweater, scarf and socks whimpering about dying.  (Drama Queen 101)

And - just to prove it...here's the daily picture of me, smiling in a robe.  There's a truckload of make-up going on here to try to hide the fact that I felt like crap this morning, but the post-cryo smile here is legit.

Cryotherapy when you feel like crap?  A very good thing!

PS:  I ate nothing all day yesterday and lost 1 lb?  Hardly worth it...

Day 2: Chill Out...

Day 2:  Chill Out

Welcome to Day 2 .

Here's my stats:

Weight:  194 
Size:  14
Blood Pressure:  145/87*
Feeling:  Pre-Cryo:  Okay, a bit stressed  Post-Cryo:  Pretty Good!

* I take medication for chronic hypertension.

Day 2 started off with a bit of stress for me.  I mentioned yesterday that I am dealing with a sick pet and today was the day to take her to the vet.  I headed there in the morning honestly not knowing if she would be coming home again ever...so, a bit of a sniffle and a few blinked back tears and onward with my day.

Pre-Cryo:
I hit my bed late last night, thanks to that nap I mentioned and the Excedrin I took for my headache.  Both of which I knew would reward me with a late bedtime, so I wasn't surprised.  I went to bed around 1 am and watched television until 2 am before turning it off and falling immediately asleep.  Before sleep, I noticed I was slightly stiff in my back and my neck and got up to change my pillow.  I think I mentioned that I have a disc issue in my neck and the "wrong" pillow (too flat, too firm, too fluffy, etc) can put me completely off for days.  I'm like the princess and the pea that way...or in this case, the princess and the pillow.  Once I found just the right pillow for the night, I was perfectly comfortable and sleep rewarded me with a restful night of deep, dreamless sleep.  

I woke up refreshed and, despite my stress about the day ahead, feeling pretty stable and calm.  There were a few threats of wet eyes that I fought back as I loaded up my kitty, but overall physically I was doing well.  No aches, no pains, plenty of energy.  I actually woke up 15 minutes before my alarm (unusual for me!) and was ready to get on with my day.  Mornings are my worst enemy and I usually have to be summoned with promises of massive caffeine infusions and some sort of pagan ceremony to crawl out of bed.  Today, even despite the dread of the appointment, I popped up willingly and was up and at 'em.

My only complaint of the morning is a very slight sore throat...

The appointment, by the way, was mostly non-surprising.  Possible kitty kidney failure.  Tests were run, results are pending.  Kitty is home and now we wait.

Post-Cryo:
As I write this, it's been several hours since I "froze" and I'm feeling good.  The weird thing is that after the cryo, for about an hour or two, my slight sore throat seemed to diminish almost entirely.  It's back ever so slightly now, but it's still very minor and I'm throwing vitamin C at it.

This is usually the time of day that if I am going to start wanting a nap, my energy level starts to droop.  I should mention that my husband and I are both self-employed, which means we work most often from home and often at all hours/days - so naps are possible on occasion and are fully justified by the fact that sometimes my weekends are sacrificed to work.  The point is - I'm not feeling a nap right now.  Even though the weather is a bit gloomy (perfect nap weather...) and my bed is awfully comfy...and...I'll stop now before I talk myself into a nap that I don't need.  My energy level is very good.  My focus is very good.  I feel productive and I have a genuine desire to get things done.  I am mentally thinking ahead even now to what I need to do next and what I can do next.  

The other thing that I am just now realizing is that I haven't eaten.  That is not on purpose, and I don't recommend it - I'm usually not one to skip meals (I think the 194 lbs above proves that), but apparently my appetite is down, because up until this moment when I stopped to think about it, I had not even realized that I hadn't eaten a single thing since dinner last night.  I'm officially in the danger zone where eating now will affect dinner, so I may grab a small snack, but the truth is - I'm honestly not hungry at all.  I also have noticed that I am drinking more water with less of a desire for sugary drinks.  I have a tendency to get hooked on sweet drinks (hence the 194 lbs) and every chance I can get off of them, is a VERY good thing - but hard to do.  I am definitely not craving the sugar right now and water is satisfying me.  Between that and the lack of being hungry is intriguing.  Whether that is cryotherapy and my metabolism or stress (which I am not really feeling) or related to this slight sore throat, I can't say right now.  But - noteworthy...

I have no pain.  No stiffness anywhere.  No headaches.  Overall, aside from this tiny throat tickle, I feel perfect.  If my throat were clear, I'd be 100%.

Emotionally, I feel great.  Which is an odd thing to say, since things are not great.  The pet I am worried over is one I am very close to; a cat that I have had since she found us in 2009 and decided to stay.  She is obsessively attached to me and, although I joke about her being a menace and a terror, I adore her.  She's spirited & feisty and I joke often that she is me in cat-form. While she has fought some battles in the past, my gut tells me that this might be the last of her nine lives...  I should be far more wrecked, stressed and worried right now, but instead, I am calm even while I am a bit sad.  I feel as though I am just waiting for the next steps.  I know I will try my best to do what I can and wait for her to let me know what she needs me to do.  If she has one more fight left in her, we will fight.  If she is ready to let go, I will honor that for her.  There will be tears, but I know it will be another part of the process of loving a pet.  Sometimes we have to let go.  My head is as clear as it can be on the matter.  Other stresses, like a busy schedule, a heavy workload, family, etc. are not weighing particularly heavy on me either.  I am - at peace.  I can accept that I will do my best and it will just have to be enough.  (Sounds pretty mature, huh?).

The emotional balance is a very good thing.  Typically, I am a bit of an anxiety-ridden, worrying, insecure, impulsive, obsessive kinda girl.  You know, your average drama queen.  But, hey - I wear crowns well.

It's only day two, but perhaps the cryotherapy is contributing to a better balance.

Overview:
It's early in the cumulative cryotherapy experiment, but I'm hopeful.  One thing that I noticed was that I did not feel the cold as much today.  My temps were between -220° and -250° for my three minutes and I remained comfortable.  Another person did not have that same impact for her second day, she was cold and was counting down the seconds, so this seems to be specific to me.  I'm feeling good, energetic, focused, calm and balanced.  Most of those words do not generally describe me, so let's call day two a success.

Day 1: Just Chillin'

9/26/16, Day One

Welcome to Day One!

The stats aren't pretty, but they're real and I'm nothing, if not real, so here we are:

Weight:  194 
Size:  14
Blood Pressure:  137/84*
Feeling:  Pre-Cryo:  Okay  Post-Cryo:  Pretty Good!

* I take medication for chronic hypertension.

Pre-Cryo:

Last night I slept for about  6 1/2 hours and had a decent night of sleep.  As a chronic insomniac, that's always appreciated.

My energy level pre-cryo was just "ok" in the morning.  I would have loved to crawl back into bed and sleep more, if I'm being honest.  I was woken up a bit earlier than usual which may be a factor and couldn't fall back asleep after.

Pre-cryo, I was also achy.  I was actually in a perfect cryotherapy moody.  I had done some heavy lifting for a charity/volunteer event over the weekend and my back, neck and right knee were all feeling some minor pain.  Nothing severe, but uncomfortable enough to give me an all over "yuck" feeling and make me wince a bit with almost every movement.  Not only did I want to go back to bed, but I wanted a heating pad with me...

My mood was also "okay".  I was upbeat about heading for my cryotherapy appointment, especially since I always enjoy going to the office.  I was mildly stressed about some other things - a sick pet I am worrying over, a child heading back to college today after a long weekend home, a ton of work to do and some medical test results I am waiting on.  Overall, I was doing "okay".  I wouldn't call it a great day, but I wasn't going to whine about it too much.

My digestive system felt "off".  A heavy meal the night before was weighing on me.  I was slightly hungry, having missed breakfast.

The Cryo Experience:
If you haven't done cryo before, let me give you a brief overview (with a promise to post a video in the very near future!).  You strip down.  Girls get fully undressed (no jewelry, no creams or lotions on the skin for 2 hours prior to the appointment - make-up is fine, since your head is above the chamber), Men wear underwear.  This might seem unfair, but apparently men can suffer a bit of a freezer burn issue on their genitalia otherwise.  You step into the chamber in your robe, wearing plastic gloves and socks only.  Some places ask you to bring socks, while others provide them for you.  Once inside, you hand your robe to the attendant and slip on the heavy gloves to protect your hands as the process starts.

First timers usually do two minutes.  The normal time is three minutes.  Every 15 seconds, you do a quarter turn to ensure that the jets of cold dry air don't just hit one spot of your body and the attendant will typically remind you to turn.  During this time, the temperature drops to an average of -230 to -260° or  slightly lower.  It might sound pretty extreme, but the reality is that cold is cold.  You will feel as if you are standing naked in a freezer for that brief time.  It's cold.  Very cold.  But it isn't at all unbearable.  I actually like it.  It wakes me up, it revives me, it energizes me.  Some people don't love it, but everyone agrees that it's fast and it isn't awful.

Your legs might feel a slight burning sensation.  Fortunately, I mean very slight.  This is similar to the burn you might feel after climbing a few flights of stairs.  To me, it feels like the blood in my legs is frozen and they feel "crispy".  In actuality, your skin doesn't "freeze" - the cold only penetrates a very tiny depth, so you have nothing to fear.  I tend to start marching in place if I need to in order to relieve it.

Time goes fast.  The attendant can keep you posted if you like, with an encouraging "Only 30 seconds to go!"  Feel free to ask.  The moment it ends, you are handed your robe and you can step out.  The second you step out, you warm up in an instant.  There is no prolonged cold, your body instantly warms you back up.  In fact, I often keep water with me to sip because I will feel too warm after.

Normally, you will step onto a vibrating plate for 1-2 minutes after to get your blood flowing and help cleanse impurities.  

Post-Cryo:

As always, I felt energized and refreshed.  My mood was elevated and I was laughing and having a good time.  The aches I had felt earlier were completely gone.  

I was no longer very hungry, although I was aware that it was lunchtime.  Probably because my husband kept asking what was for lunch.  Once home, I served him leftovers and had some myself, though I was full after a small amount and didn't need anything else until dinner time.  No sugar or snack cravings, which is notable.

I did develop a headache and need a nap around 4:30 pm.  I know that it was unrelated to the cryo, since I have done cryotherapy many times without ever having a headache after.  It had been a long weekend with very little sleep and I suspect it had finally caught up to me.  I tend to get headaches when my neck muscles are tight and they had been tight over the weekend and this morning.  I'm super sensitive to which pillow I sleep on and the wrong one can put me into a migraine.  The weather was a bit stormy and I took advantage of it to take a catnap.  In the past, I might have napped too long, but after a short bit, I woke up on my own and felt refreshed and revived.  I still had a bit of a headache, so I took my first pain reliever of the day (Excedrin).  The pain in my knee has returned slightly after about 5 hours, but only very slightly (I think I twisted it a bit).  I'm not limping or in any major discomfort, I just notice it when I stop to assess.  My back pain is still mostly gone after 5 hours post cryo, though I feel a small tightness returning.  I did a very unusual amount of heavy lifting this weekend, which is not my normal routine, and there is no doubt I am paying the price.  It does not feel like a strain - it feels more like post-workout muscles might feel, so I don't think this is a bad thing.  Imagine the way your legs might feel two days after "leg day" at the gym and you have an idea of what I mean.  Not really "painful", just tight.

So - there you have it.  Day one, in the books!

The Experiment: 30 Days of Cumulative Cryotherapy

Christine at Cryo954 in Weston, FL

I first heard about cryotherapy on TV.  It seemed to be everywhere, from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills to Shark Tank to Billions.  By the time I spotted it for the third time, I knew I had to try it.

I was hooked.  

If you aren't familiar, I suggest you click here now for the convenient Google search I have ready for you on links to the benefits of cryotherapy chambers.  They are numerous and they are amazing.  Essentially you step into the equivalent of a shower stall naked and stand in -260 degree-ish dry, cold air for 3 minutes.  Sounds insane, right?  It's not unpleasant.  It is cold, but since the air is dry it is about the equivalent of standing naked in a freezer for 3 minutes.  You know those people who take ice baths?  Yeah, now that's crazy.  This is much more pleasant than that and you stay nice and dry.

After 3 minutes of dry cold air, you're done.  In exchange for that little bit of cold time, you are rewarded with a clear sense of calm, focus, energy and an all over "good" feeling thanks to endorphins and adrenaline.  Any aches and pains you had are gone because they've just been iced into oblivion for awhile.  Your skin is smooth (numb, but smooth), your metabolism is running fast and you feel great.  And that's the super-short summarized list of benefits.  Read about it...I mean it.  

There is evidence of serious benefits in cryotherapy for those who suffer from multiple sclerosis and muscle spasticity, auto immune disease, migraine headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, insomnia, osteoporosis, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, herniated discs, spinal diseases, pulled muscles and fat (yes, fat.  I'm fat, I can say it).  All these benefits are researched and the details are on the Cryo954 page here for your convenience if you are looking for a little light reading...zzzzzzzzz.

These days I try to go as often as I can.  We can all use some clear headed, energizing, pain relieving, good feeling in our week, right?  Recently, at my regular favorite Cryotherapy spot, Cryo954 in Weston, Florida, I had a conversation with the owner and the office manager where we discussed the monthly package deal and theorized on the cumulative effects of cryotherapy for someone who did it every day for 30 days.  Weight loss?  Anxiety reduction?  Better sleep?  We know these benefits exist for cryotherapy users, but how would daily usage impact a user?

The challenge was on...

With the exception of Sundays (and a few travel days that I just can't avoid with my busy schedule), I am going to do cryotherapy every single day starting Monday, September 26, 2016 and report on the results.  It's going to get personal and I'm going to share it all - but I've always been the open book type, so let's go!

The journey begins Monday, 9/26/16.